France targets IS site near Iraq's Mosul in new airstrikes

PARIS (AP) — France's defense chief says French warplanes targeted a communications center of the Islamic State group near the Iraqi city of Mosul as part of a string of airstrikes this week.

Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on BFM television Thursday that France has carried out seven airstrikes since Monday. He says the latest airstrikes targeted the communications center overnight, and "it's continuing."

France joined the U.S.-led coalition's campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq in 2014 and extended its air operations to Syria last year, after France was repeatedly hit by attacks or threats linked to the extremists.